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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, September 26, 2001

Hee regains OHA chairmanship

By Yasmin Anwar
Advertiser Staff Writer

Political cowboy Clayton Hee took back the reins of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs yesterday in the state agency's sixth leadership change since 1997.

Clayton Hee won a 5-3 vote over Haunani Apoliona for OHA chairmanship.

Advertiser library photo

As a prospective candidate for lieutenant governor, Hee, 48, shifted yesterday from what critics say was obstructionist to statesman after months of lobbying to oust Haunani Apoliona, who has headed the nine-member board for nine months.

Rowena Akana, Hee's steadfast ally, was elected vice chairwoman in the new regime, which on Monday will announce its picks to head OHA's standing committees. Bets are on Charles Ota as the new chairman of OHA's Budget and Finance Committee.

OHA's youngest trustee, John Waihe'e IV, was a swing vote in the 5-3 decision. In agonized tones, Waihe'e argued that Hee, a former state legislator, would make a better warrior as the agency faces a major fiscal crisis.

"There are great wartime leaders and great peace time leaders. I think Clayton is a better wartime leader," said Waihe'e, son of the former Hawai'i governor.

Opposing the reorganization were Apoliona, Colette Machado and Oswald Stender, who said the change is disruptive at a time when OHA is moving forward on several fronts. Donald Cataluna was absent from the meeting.

"Today's change in leadership has nothing to do with leadership style, but has everything to do with those that 'wanna be' and egos that promote personal gain," said Stender, former Bishop Estate trustee and chairman of OHA's budget and finance committee.

Yesterday's coup came on the heels of the Hawai'i Supreme Court's Sept. 12 decision to strike down a Circuit Court ruling that, if upheld, would have forced the state to pay OHA hundreds of millions of dollars in back revenues for ceded lands.

Ceded lands are some 1.2 million acres of former crown lands that the U.S. government ceded back to the state in 1959 to be held in trust for public benefits, including the betterment of Native Hawaiians.

In its decision, the high court invalidated a state law that establishes a precise ceded land revenue share for OHA. Its actions eliminated any leverage OHA has had in the high-stakes dispute.

Yesterday, Hee, a horseman who favors cowboy boots, announced he would meet with his old friend Gov. Ben Cayetano to move toward a possible settlement.

Hee reminded the board that he was against a 1999 OHA vote to reject the state's offer of $251 million and 360,000 acres of revenue producing lands.

At the time, critics said the deal would be settling for too little while forfeiting OHA's right to press future claims with the state over ceded lands.

However, regardless of OHA's leadership, law makers today don't anticipate a quick fix to Hawaiians share of ceded land revenues.

State Rep. Eric Hamakawa D-3rd (South Hilo, Puna) chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, has said he thinks the Legislature is likely to wait for an inventory of ceded lands, a process he acknowledges may take years.

Moreover, the economic crisis triggered by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington have made Hawaiian entitlements a low priority as lawmakers address more pressing fiscal concerns.

"I don't think we can expect anything from the Legislature, let alone important grants from the federal government to continue to give us support," Ota said.

Advertiser staff writer Kevin Dayton contributed to this report.